Balantidium Coli

Balantidium Coli

MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES

SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT

NAME: Balantidium coli

SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Balantidiosis, balantidiasis, balantidial dysentery

CHARACTERISTICS: Ciliated protozoa with a large, ovoid trophozoite 40-70 µm long, covered with cilia; contains both macronucleus and micronucleus; cysts are usually 50-55 µm in diameter

SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD

PATHOGENICITY: Infection of colon characterized by diarrhea or dysentery; accompanied by abdominal colic, tenesmus, nausea, and vomiting with bloody and mucoid stools

EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; human infection rate is low; waterborne epidemics common in areas with poor sanitation or environmental contamination with swine feces

HOST RANGE: Humans, other nonhuman primates and pigs

INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known

MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Fecal-oral route; fecally contaminated water is a major mechanism of transmission

INCUBATION PERIOD: Usually 4-5 days

COMMUNICABILITY: As long as the illness persists

SECTION III – DISSEMINATION

RESERVOIR: Swine, non-human primates, rats, and possibly other animals

ZOONOSIS: Via swine fecal contaminated soil

VECTORS: None

SECTION IV – VIABILITY

DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Sensitive to metronidazole, tetracycline, iodoquinol

SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde (ordinary water chlorination does not destroy cysts)

PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to heat

SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: Cysts survive for long periods in the environment

SECTION V – MEDICAL

SURVEILLANCE: Monitor for symptoms; confirm by microscopic demonstration of trophozoite and cyst in feces

FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Administer appropriate drug therapy

IMMUNIZATION: None available

PROPHYLAXIS: None available

SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS

LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: None reported to date

SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Stool specimens

PRIMARY HAZARDS: Ingestion

SPECIAL HAZARDS: Swine feces

SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS

CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices are recommended for activities involving infectious stages of the parasite

PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when skin contact with infectious materials is unavoidable

OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None

SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION

SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle: wearing protective clothing gently cover the spill with absorbent paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite starting at the perimeter and working towards the center; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up

DISPOSAL: Decontaminate all wastes before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration

STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled

SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Date prepared: November 1999

Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC

Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.

Copyright © Health Canada, 2001

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